State pensioners who lost Winter Fuel Payment being handed free £120 'voucher'

State pensioners in the East of England who lost the £300 Winter Fuel Payment to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are set to wake up to a free Cost of Living voucher. Norfolk County Council confirmed what it was to do with its £6.7million worth of funding on Tuesday this week.

The Conservative-controlled council said it was going to use £1.15million of its funding to help residents in the area "keep warm". The council explained: "The Household Support Fund is £6.7m the Government has given Norfolk to support residents who are struggling with the cost of living. This includes support for single households, families with or without children, older people and disabled people. This funding runs from October 2024 to March 2025."

The local authority promised its scheme would "give families flexibility and choice in our support by providing a monthly cost of living voucher for families eligible for free school meals. Running from October to March, this will support families to budget and give them choice, helping them to plan for birthdays and holidays, or offset against other bills."

READ MORE UK tourists ordered to 'leave' Tenerife and Lanzarote warn 'it's scary'

It added how it would include "financial support for emergency energy needs, provision of household items through charitable organisations as well as support with money management, budgeting and benefits entitlement", too.

The council will also "give funding to partners who provide accredited advice to provide advice and cost of living payments to those most affected by the introduction of means testing for the winter fuel payment" and "provide funding to District Councils to identify and support vulnerable households who are struggling with the cost of living."

Households identified will each receive a one of cost of living payment of £120, the council has said. Andrew Jamieson, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, said: “There will be thousands of people who will miss the new cut-off by a small margin, leaving them without the means to pay for the cost of fuel. The council will make sure payments make their way quickly to those who most need them."